Why it matters
The producer
Grégoire Chaix inherited fragmented vineyard parcels from his grandfather, Tropez Beraud, and began restructuring them in 1996. He owns Domaine Tropez in Gassin. The range spans Côtes de Provence AOC, Var IGP and Méditerranée IGP wines, with organic viticulture part of the estate's farming. Domaine Tropez Rosé is the named Côtes de Provence bottle.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Gassin is the home of Domaine Tropez. The bottles carry Côtes de Provence AOC, Var IGP or Méditerranée IGP designations. AOC and IGP are French geographical categories, so the designation on the label identifies the regulated area attached to the wine. Here, the Côtes de Provence name belongs to the rosé, while Var and Méditerranée mark other wines in the range.
Wines to know
The range in view
Domaine Tropez Rosé is a pale pink Côtes de Provence rosé made from 80% Grenache, 10% Rolle and 10% Syrah. The grapes are harvested at night to maintain freshness and preserve aromatic compounds.
Production uses crushing, complete destemming and gentle pressing at low temperature, followed by cold settling and alcoholic fermentation in temperature controlled tanks. The wine ages on fine lees after fermentation. Fine lees are the yeast sediment left after fermentation, and the technique can add body and complexity while preserving delicate fruit character in pale rosé. The wider range includes Var IGP and Méditerranée IGP wines.